Separating Fact From Fiction

They do not track vehicles in the whole of their movements. ALPRs take a point-in-time image of the rear of vehicles on public roadways. Any images not used for an investigation are deleted.

As government-issued identifiers, license plates are legally required to be publicly visible.

ALPRs do not violate the 4th Amendment or any other Constitutional provision. 30+ appellate and federal courts have upheld the use of LPR evidence.

Customers control all data sharing. Agencies can share camera access with other police 1:1 (PD to PD), by geographic radius (e.g., 10 miles), or statewide. Agencies can also choose to share data nationwide.

No such database exists. Customers own 100% of their data. Flock does not sell it. Only customers (police, neighborhoods, or businesses) decide who to share data with. Data is deleted after the retention period.

Flock’s private customers can never access law enforcement data. Flock’s private customers can, if they choose, share footage with police, but in no case is law enforcement data accessible to private customers.

“Back-door access” does not exist. Customers have complete control over sharing and Flock never shares data without their permission. Collaboration with federal agencies is the customer's choice.

Flock’s ALPR system does not collect PII. Flock collects images of vehicles, vehicle characteristics, and license plates, which are government documents required to be displayed on vehicles as a condition of using public roadways. Flock does not have access to any PII (such as names, addresses, SSNs, or DMV records).

Flock permanently deletes ALPR data in accordance with applicable law and the locally established parameters for data retention. Flock’s standard data retention is 30 days, but this may be increased or decreased if required by a customer’s law or policy.

Flock’s ALPR cameras do not use facial recognition. Flock’s ALPR system cannot be used to search for human characteristics, like race or gender.

Oakland NAACP endorsed Flock ALPR, noting it reduces bias in policing. Cameras detect only crime vehicles, removing subjective judgment to avoid disproportionate stops/harmful interactions with Black and Brown residents.

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ALPRs have measurable impacts on crime and close rates. The San Diego Mayor credited a 20% decrease in auto theft to Flock ALPR. The San Francisco Mayor credited Flock ALPR for a 41% decrease in auto theft and a 46% increase in auto theft arrests.